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Our club, the Blue Ridge Bonsai Society, was invited by the NC Arboretum to create an exhibit and demonstrations In their Bonsai Pavilion for World Bonsai Day, May 14 & 15, 2022. Many members contributed and worked hard. See "2022 So Far" on the Spcial Notices / Recent Events page for more details. Here are some photos:
 1-IMG_2513BRBS Banner |  3-IMG_2497 |  4-IMG_2537Felix and Kato poster |
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 6-IMG_2472 |  7-IMG_2474Felix and Peggy |  8-IMG_2476Rennis and visitor |
 9-IMG_2478 |  10-IMG_2521Peggy and the younger Jonas |  11-IMG_2520Jonas and visitors |
 12-IMG_2530Rob and his tree |  15-IMG_2144Bob and visitors |  14-IMG_2492Rob and his pots |
 16-IMG_2508More visitors |  13-IMG_2535Bob demos |
A Stewartia forest was created by Felix Laughlin with help from other club members at the November, 2019 meeting. It is now two years old.
At the 2019 meeting, Felix first discussed the basic principles of forest design.. Click on the document icon to download his presentation and on the picture gallery to see some of the steps:
 Design for first 3 trees (p 71)DSC 0610 ed |  Chopstick frameDXC 0560 |
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 Cutting down root mass of treesDSC 0570 cr |  Choosing tree #1DSC 0576 cr |
 Planting the first treeDSC 0579 cr |  Finishing upDSC 0597 |
In November, 2020, Felix sent us this picture of the forest on its first anniversary:
In 2021, on its second birthday, here it is: (Too late in the season to have leaves.)
Felix on styling methods:
"I added copper loops through the drainage holes to allow me to use thin copper wire to pull the trees into better position.
Also the small trees in the back are straightened using chopsticks allowing the aluminum wire to be put on with wider spacing to minimize scarring of the trunks (a technique Danny showed me). I also used plastic tubing to reduce scarring in various vulnerable areas."
Click on the displayed photo to show the whole picture and show the navigation button.
Pictures from Our Traveling Photographer, Stuart Rogers
Highlights of the 2019 Winter Silhouette Bonsai Expo in Kannapolis, NC
 DSC_0004 crPrincess Persimmon - Mac McAtee |  DSC_0007cr |
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 DSC_0008cr |  DSC_0009Cork Bark Chinese Elm - Amy Blanton |
 DSC_0017Korean hornbeam - Nick Lens's "Bear" |  DSC_0018cr |
 DSC_0019Closeup of the "bear" |  DSC_0025American Hornbeam - Arthur Joura |
 DSC_0034Azalea - Steve Zeisel |  DSC_0040Dwarf Scots Pine - Stu Charlesworth |
 DSC_0050Blaaws Juniper |  DSC_0051Closeup |
 DSC_0052Trunk closeup |  DSC_0081Three American Beech - Gary Clark |
 DSC_0137crKorean Hornbeam Forest - Pauline Muth |  IMG_1838Bill Valavanis and friend doing demo |
 IMG_1833 |
A Few Highlights of the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum in Washington, DC
 DSC_0237Our National Bonsai & Penjing Museum |  DSC_0440Three Pavilions |
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 DSC_0448Main Gate |  DSC_0242Gate to the Chinese Pavilion |
 DSC_0361Sargent Juniper |  DSC_0347Pasture Juniper |
 DSC_0303Windswept Chinese Elm |  DSC_0374Circular Gate |
 DSC_0243Large Stones inside Gate |  DSC_0330Typical Display Room |
 DSC_0297Trident Maple |  DSC_0299Trident Maple |
 DSC_0278Chinese Elm |  DSC_0267Silver Thorn (Gift of John Naka.) |
 DSC_0268 |  DSC_0265Chinese Juniper |
 DSC_0255Sasanana Camellia |  DSC_0259A Maple "Dragon" |
 DSC_0253Japanese White Pine |  DSC_0249Crab Apple |
 DSC_0246Chinese Elm |  DSC_0395Natal Fig |
DSC_0374 |  DSC_0426Entrance to the International Pavilion |
 DSC_0428 |  DSC_0429 |
 DSC_0437Tribute to Yuji Yoshimura |  DSC_0436Tribute to John Naka |
Knoxville Bonsai Society's Winter Show 2020
 DSC_0065American Hornbeam |  DSC_0077 (2)Ponderosa Pine |
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 DSC_0090 crGreen Island Fig |  DSC_0100 crHinoki Cypress |
 DSC_0113 crKorean Hornbeam Forest |  DSC_0116 crFlowering Quince |
 DSC_0121 cr |  DSC_0135 crJuniper |
 DSC_0144 crA Variety of Elms |  Trident split trunk crTrident Maple with split trunk |
 Elm Forest with H accent crElm forest with Hinoki Accent |
Blue Ridge Bonsai Society's Exhibit at the Carolina Bonsai Expo for 2019 at the NC Arboretum, October 12 & 13, 2019
 01-IMG_0055 |  02-IMG_0062Juniper procumbans |
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 03-DSC_0384 |  04-IMG_0055crCorky Burning Bush |
 05-IMG_0056Hinoki False Cypress forest |  06- IMG_0058 |
 07-DSC_0385 crPyracantha "Mojave" |  08-IMG_0060 |
 09-IMG_1810Japanese Garden Juniper |  010-20191012_162941Trident Maple |
 -011-20191012_163000Varieties of moss |
A Few Beautiful Trees from Other Clubs at the Carolina Bonsai Expo for 2019 at the NC Arboretum, October 12 & 13, 2019
 01-DSC_0398Spruce |  02-20191012_143654Black Pine (?) |
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 03-DSC_0393 crSngo Kahu (coral bark) Maple |  04-DSC_0392Hemlock |
 05-DSC_0390Pine |  06-IMG_1840Ginkgo |
 07-IMG_1856Ficus? |  08-IMG_1845 crBald Cypress |
Blue Ridge Bonsai Society's Exhibit at the Carolina Bonsai Expo for 2018 at the NC Arboretum, Cctober 12 & 13, 2018
 P1010294 |  P1010292 |
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 P1010291 |  P1010290 |
 P1010289 |  P1010288 |
Blue Ridge Bonsai Society's Exhibit at the Asheville Botanical Gardens, 2018
 Our new bannerIMG 2191cr |  Chinese Elm and American HornbeamIMG 2152cr |
|---|---|
 Japanese LarchIMG 2154 |  Jack PineIMG 2155 |
 Chinese ElmIMG 2156 Ch Elm |  Japanese black pine -- just startedIMG 2156 new Bk pine |
 Japanese Black Pine - mature bonsaiIMG 2157 |  Weeping Willow FicusIMG 2176 |
 Azalea, with rockIMG 2178 |  Juniper, "Old Gold"IMG 2179 |
 Shimpaku JuniperIMG 2180 |  FicusIMG 2160 |
 Hinoke False CypressIMG 2161 |  Simpaku JuniperIMG 2163 |
 Eastern White PineIMG 2164 |  Dawn RedwoodIMG 2165 |
 American Eastern LarchIMG 2167 |  Autumn OliveIMG 2169 |
 Dwarf JadeIMG 2175 |  Dwarf Chinese ElmIMG 2170 |
 Juniper ProcumbansIMG 2171 |  Hinoki CypressIMG 2172 |
 CrabappleIMG 2174 |  Juniper, "Blaauw"IMG 2177 |
 Forest: Tridents, Chinese Elm, AzaleIMG 2181 |  Shimpaku Juniper, "Itoigawa"IMG 2182 |
July, 2017 meeting with Arthur Joura at the bonsai hoop house at the NC Arboretum.
 Arthur with American Elm1204 |  to be styled inside greenhouse1203 |
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 Almost finished1205 |  Notice dead spot revealed on trunk1207 |
 Hoop house from outside1199 |  From inside.1191 |
 Shadecloth used in summer.changed to white insulation in winter. 1172 |  Very big red maple1186 |
 IMG_1189 |  Ready for display1188 |
 Beech from fountain. Will be bonsaieventually. 1200 |
Repotting Workshop with Boon Manakitivipart March, 2017
 Boon -from Artisans Cup |  John's pineCandid 8 |
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 Wiring mesh over drainage holes1-E |  Mesh-covered holes from bottom1-F |
 Tie-down wires for one-hole pot2-F |  Measuring tie-down wires forrectangular pot 1-G |
 Cotter pin for one-hole pot2-C |  Bottom of root mass from old pot4-A |
 Raking and trimming4-C |  Gently rake base4-B |
 Top side tools4-E |  Twist down loop5-C |
 Surface of soil s/b level4-O |  Taking finished tree to water4-R |
 Water new soil thoroughly4-P |  Finished and restingCandid 4 |
Black Creek Study Group's
Cypress display at the the 2015 Carolina Bonsai Expo
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